Reclosable cartons



Feb. 11, 1969 s, G. FROHLICHER 3,425,956

RECLOSABLE CARTONS Filed Aug. 9, 1967 ATTORNEY United States Patent O 8 'Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The reclosable cartons of this invention include a flap structure in which a portion of the container top may hinge open and may reclose and lock. One end wall is provided with an end wall closure flap, and portions of the upper edges of the adjoining side walls are provided with partial closure flaps. A flap structure is hinged to the upper end of the other end wall and adjoining side wall portions. The flap structure includes first flanges folded outwardly of the walls to which they are hinged, second flanges contiguous with the first flanges and in face contact therewith, and closure flaps secured to the second flanges and foldable into superposed relation. A connecting flap secures one side wall closure flap to the adjacent side wall partial closure flap. The first llanges are detachably connected to the side walls to permit the closure structure to hinge open.

This invention relates to an improvement in reclosable cartons and deals particularly with a carton which may be formed in one piece, and which is normally closed during shipment and storage, but which may be readily opened and reclosed when desired.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a carton including a top closure flap structure, and in which portions of two opposed side wall closure flaps and the intermediate end wall flaps are provided with connected flanges which are folded to lie outwardly of adjoining portions of these side and end walls. These flanges are connected to reversely folded second flanges which lie outwardly of the first named flanges. The second flanges are provided with closure flap portions which fold inwardly into superimposed relation to form the top closure for the carton. The first side wall flanges are detachably connected to the upper edges of the side walls along weakened lines of separation, and a weakened line of separation extends across the first end wall flange connecting the ends of the first named weakened lines. As a result, the closure flaps connected to the second flanges, together with the first and second flanges, may be hinged upwardly to form an opening through which the contents of the carton might be dispensed.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a carton of the type described in which the first flange connected to the end wall may be separated to provide a flap connected to the upper edge of the end wall, and a second flap connected to the second flange of the end wall. These two flaps are designed to interlock to hold the carton in closed position.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a carton in which the top of the carton is provided with a reclosable cover portion including a portion of the carton top, and downwardly extending marginal flanges connected to this carton top portion telescoping over portions of the carton side walls and the intermediate end wall.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification.

3,426,956 Patented Feb. l1, 1969 ICC FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the carton in closed position thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the portion of the cover of the carton shown in FIGURE 1 with the cover in open dispensing position.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view through a portion of the cover and the end wall of the carton, showing the carton in partially reclosed position.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional Idetail through a portion of the cover, the position of the section being indicated by the line 4 4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the carton is formed.

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the blank after the first folding operation thereof.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 showing the cover structure in completely folded condition.

The reclosable carton is indicated in general by the letter A. As indicated in FIGURE 5 of the drawings, the carton includes a side wall 10, an end wall 11, a side wall 12 and an end wall 13, the walls being connected along parallel fold lines 14, 15, and 16. A glue flap 17 is foldably connected to one end wall panel of the series, such as the panel 10, along a fold line 19 which is parallel to the previously described fold lines.

The lower end of the carton is adapted to be closed by closure flaps 20, 21, 22, and 23 which are foldably connected to the panels 10, 11, 12, and 13 along a fold line 24 defining the lower ends of the various walls. Top partial closure flaps 25 and 26 are foldably connected to portions of the side wall panels 10 and 12 respectively along a transverse fold line 27. The fold line 27 also eX- tends across the upper end of the end wall 11 and the end wall 13, the end wall 13 being provided with a closure flap 29. The top partial closure flap 25 and 26 extend from the fold line 19 to a point spaced from the fold line 14, and from the fold line 16 to a point spaced from the fold line 15, respectively. The end wall 11, and the adjoining areas of the side walls 10 and 12, are provided with a special llap structure which is indicated in general by the numeral 30, and which forms a part of the present invention.

Cut lines 31 and 32 extend from the fold line 27 to the free edges of the top partial closure flaps 25 and 26 t0 separate these closure flaps 25 and 26 from the flap structure 30. A weakened line of separation 33 aligned with the fold line 27 connects the upper edge of the side wall 10 to a first side wall flange 34. A similar weakened line of separation 35 such as a perforated line, which is aligned with the fold line 27, extends from the cut line 32 to the fold line 15, the perforated line connecting the upper edge of the side wall 12 to a first side wall flange 36. The fold line 27, aligned with the perforated lines 33 and 35 connects the upper edge of the end wall 11 to a first flange 37. The width of the first flanges 34, 36 and 37 are equal. A fold line 39 which is parallel to the fold lines 24 and 27 connect the first flanges 34, 36 and 37 to second side and end wall flanges 40, 41 and 42 respectively. The secon-d flanges 40, 41 and 42 are substantially equal in height to the flanges 34, 36 and 37 and are designed to lie outwardly thereof, as will be later described. In actual pracice, the cut lines 31 and 32 which define the ends of the top partial closure flaps 25 and 26 include V-shaped notch portions 43 and 44 at opposite ends of the fold lines 39, with the apexes of the notches directed toward one another in the blank. This structure is arranged merely to provide beveled corners on the closure, as will be noted in FIG- URES 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The second flanges 40, 41 and 42 are connected along a fold line 45 which is parallel to the fold lines 27 and 39 to closure flap portions 46, 47 and 49 respectively. A hinge flap 50 is hingedly connected to a lateral end of the closure flap 47 along a fold line 51 which is at right angles to the fold line 45.

To simplify the folding of the first flanges 34, 36 and 37 against the outer surface of the panels 10, 12, and 11 to which they are hinged, generally triangular slots or apertures 52 and 53 are provided between the adjoining ends of the first flanges 34 and 36 and the intermediate rst flange 37. To complete the detachability of the flange structure from the wall panels, a weakened line of separation 54 extends across the first flange 37. In the arrangement illustrated, the perforated or weakened line 54 is arcuate and has its end extremities substantially at the juncture ibetween the fold line 27 and the fold lines 14 and 15. The weakened line 54 thus divides the first flange 37 into an arcuate locking flap 55 and a cooperable locking flap 56. The locking flap 55 is hingedly connected to the upper edge of the end wall 11 along a fold line 27, while the locking flap 56 is hingedly connected to the second flange 42 along the fold line 39.

In the formation of the carton A, adhesive is applied to the first flaps 34 and 36, the flap 37 remaining free of adhesive. The flap structure 30 is folded along the weakened lines 33 and 35 and the fold line 27 until the surfaces of the flanges 34 and 36 which are free of adhesive are in face contact with the side panels and 12 to which they are hinged, and the first flange 37 is in face contact with the end wall 11 to which it is secured. This folding operation may take place either before or after the glue is applied. After the first folding operation, the blank appears as indicated in FIGURE 6 of the drawings. Alternatively, adhesive may be applied to the second flanges 40 and 41 and to the surface of the hinge ap 50. The folding of the blank is completed by folding the flap structure along the fold line 39 from the position shown in FIGURE 6 to the position shown in FIGURE 7 of the drawings. When in this position the second flanges and 41 overlie the first flanges 34 and 36 and are adhered thereto. Furthermore, the flap is adhered to the top partial closing flap 26. The blank is then complete.

The blank is folded into tubular form by adhering the glue flap 17 in overlapping relation to the end wall panel 13. This is preferably done about a mandrel, in view of the double thicknesses of stock overlying portions of the panels 10, 11 and 12. The upper closure is completed by folding the closure flaps 29 and 49 inwardly into coplanar relation, folding the side wall closure flaps 25, 46 to overlie the end wall closure flaps 29 and 49, and then folding the closure flaps 26, 47 to overlie the side wall closure flaps 25, 46. The flaps are adhered in superimposed relation. When the carton is filled, the bottom closure flaps may lbe sealed in a conventional manner, the end wall closure flaps 21 and 23 normally being folded inwardly into a common plane, and the side wall closure flaps 20 and 22 being folded to lie outwardly of the flaps 21 and 23, the flaps being adhered together to form the closure.

The carton then appears as indicated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. To open the carton, the closure is hinged upwardly as indicated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the first flanges 34 and 36 tearing along the perforated lines 33 and 35. At the same time, the first flange 37 is torn along the weakened line of separation 54, permitting the closure to hinge upwardly as indicated in FIGURE 2.

As the closure is reclosed, the locking flap 56 hinged the second flange 42 slides over the arcuate flap 55, as indicated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, until the closure reaches closed position, at which time the edges of the locking flaps and 56 interengage to hold the closure locked in closed position. The locking flaps may be manually disengaged by swinging the closure back toward open position, the arcuate locking flap 55 swinging outwardly and upwardly to permit the disengagement.

I claim:

1. A reclosable carton including:

rectangularly arranged side `and end walls connected in tubular relation,

a closure flap hingedly connected to one end wall and partial closure flaps hingedly connected to portions of the edges of said side walls on either side of said one end wall and terminating in spaced relation to the other end wall,

a closure flap structure connected to the other end wall and to the remaining portions of the edges of said side walls,

said closure flap structure including first anges detachably connected to said other end wall and to said remaining portions of the edges of said side walls, said first flanges overlying portions of said other end wall and of said side walls,

second flanges hingedly connected to said first flanges and substantially coextensive therewith, said second flanges of said side walls being adhered in face contact with the first flanges thereof,

closure flaps secured to said second flanges,

means connecting one side wall closure flap hinged to one side wall second flange to the said partial closure flap on said one side wall, and

means securing said closure flaps in superposed relation whereupon when said first flanges are separated from the walls to which they are detachably connected, the closure flap structure may be hinged relative to said partial closure flaps to provide an opening.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said first flange 0n said other end wall includes a weakened line of separation extending across the same and dividing this first flange into a locking flap hinged to the edge of said other end wall and a second locking flange in face contact with the second flange of said other end wall, the weakened line of separation forming the detachable connection bctween said other end wall and said flap structure.

3. The structure of claim 1 and in which said connecting means comprises a hinge flap hingedly connected to said one side wall closure flap hinged to said one side wall second flange and adhered to the said partial closure flap on said one side wall.

4. The structure of claim 2 and in which said connecting means comprises a hinge flap hingedly connected to said one side wall closure flap hinged to said one side wall second flange and adhered to the said partial closure flap on said one side wall.

5. The structure of claim 1 and in which said flap structure includes slots between said first flange of said other end wall and said first flanges of said side walls.

6. The structure of claim 2 and in which said flap structure includes slots between said first flange of said other end wall and said first Iflange of said side walls.

7. The structure of claim 2 and in which said weakened line of separation extends from the juncture between said first `flange of one side wall and said one side wall to the juncture between the first flange of the other side wall and said other side wall.

8. A partially folded carton blank for forming a reclosable carton including:

a first end wall, a first side wall, a second end wall and and a second side wall connected along parallel fold lines,

a closure flap hinged to an edge of said first end wall,

partial closure flaps hinged to an edge of said first side wall and to an edge of said second side wall, said edges being aligned,

said partial closure flaps terminating in spaced relation to said second end wall,

a flap structure between said partial closure flaps,

said flap structure including an end wall first flange hinged to said second end wall and side wall first anges hinged to said side walls between said end wall first flange and said partial closure flaps, said first side wall flanges being connected to said walls along weakened lines of separation,

said end wall first flange overlying a portion of said 5 6 second end wall and said side wall rst anges over- References Cited lying portions of said rst and second side walls, UNITED STATES PATENTS an end wall second ange hingedly connected to said 2,396,310 3/1946 Yungblut 229 51 end wall rst flange and anges side wall anges 2,474,523 6/1949 Guyer 229 51 secured to said first side wall anges, 5 2,661,139 12/1953 Brooks 229 44 means securing said side wall second anges in face 2,881,967 4/ 1959 Ringler 229-51 contact to said rst side wall anges, 3,191,848 6/ 1965 Meyers 229-51 closure aps hingediy attached to said second end wall 312941309 12/1966 C0@ 229-45 second ange and to said side Wall second flanges, 3,302,847 2/1967 Heffnessey 229-17 10 3,338,502 s/1967 sabm 229-17 and means hingedly supported on one of said closure aps DAVIS T MOORHEAD Primary Examiner' on one of said side wall second anges secured in face contact with the partial closure ap of the U.S. C1. X.R. same side wall. 229-45, 51 

